This Is Our Story

A Heart for those Lured Away

One of the reasons I am a Pastor today is because of a guy named Otis who was a missionary with a youth outreach ministry called Young Life. Their purpose is to equip and send adults onto High School campuses with the good news of Jesus. Otis was nearly 26 years old when I first met him, but I was pretty confident that he was borderline elderly! We may have only been 10 years apart, but to a 16-year-old boy, that might as well be an eternity. And yet, Otis persisted in pursuing me and my group of very lost friends. Eventually, after a lot of hard work and persistence, my friends and I learned to respect Otis, even if we didn’t listen to the talks that he tried to give at our weekly meetings that Young Life called “Club.”

One day, after months of diligent outreach, Otis picked me up from school. It happened to be a few days after he noticed I came to Club high, so it was an extra long and awkwardly quiet drive to his house that day. After parking his car, he turned to me and asked me a question I’ll never forget. He said, “Josh, what are you doing?” That was it. However, to me, it was as if he had shared the four spiritual laws on top of the Romans Road because my heart was convicted. I knew that I had disappointed Otis, but I also knew that he loved me anyway and wanted what was best for me. Right then and there, I realized that I needed to change and I have been living for Jesus ever since.

Otis didn’t need to preach me a sermon because by that point he knew I had heard more Christian sermons than most people get to hear in a lifetime. You see, I wasn’t the typical lost kid who didn’t know Jesus, I was a prodigal. I ran away from my faith even though I’d received all the advantages of a loving Christ-centered, evangelical, Christian home. My parents loved me well! They took me to church on Sundays, then on Sunday nights, and then we went back again on Wednesdays just in case. I was a veritable connoisseur of Christian summer camps. I responded to more old-fashioned altar calls than I can remember. But none of that seemed to matter when I was 16. I was lured away by “a far country.”

I honestly don’t know where I would be if God had not sent Otis into my world with such grace and patience . . . with such a heart for prodigals. Do you know any prodigals who have been lured away from their faith? Maybe God wants to use you in their life today. My encouragement to you is to have patience. Spend time getting to know them. They probably don’t need another sermon. Instead, love them, and when they mess up, don’t rub it in their face, but maybe just take the time to ask them how they are doing. Maybe then, the kindness of God, as revealed through your kindness, will lead them to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Josh Rose
Discipleship Pastor

by Josh Rose

Thieves of Joy

Have you ever belly-laughed at a silly pet video or teared up watching the testimony of someone who came to faith in Jesus? At its best, social media has had a positive impact on building community, fostering relationships, sparking joyful moments, and inspiring people toward creativity and acts of kindness.

Many social apps open windows into the lives of our friends, celebrities, and random people around the world, giving us a chance to endlessly scroll and live vicariously through them. Sometimes this seemingly innocuous activity has the ability to evoke 1) a sense of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), and 2) feelings of comparison. The content we consume can create discontentment in our hearts, creating thoughts that who we’re with, where we are, and what we’re doing just isn’t good enough.

The Younger Son (prodigal) had serious FOMO and comparison issues. He thought his best life was out in the world, partying and squandering away his wealth, away from his loving father who provided for all his needs. Even today, some people may believe living life to the fullest looks like quitting your job on a whim, seeing every country in the world, falling recklessly in love, and trying every new experience.

Augustine once said that our hearts are restless until they find rest in the One who made it. Our fleshly hearts and desires will always be chasing the whims of the world, never feeling content, purposeful, or satisfied - until we run into the arms of our loving Father. He promises us the fullness of His joy.

"Every minute we spend focusing on comparing ourselves with others and trying to be more or less like them is time we are distracted from the work Christ desires to do in us to make us more like Him. Comparison is a heavy burden to carry. It puts the focus on replicating personality rather than embracing identity. When we allow the Father to release us from the bondage of comparison, we can live in freedom to be transformed by His kindness and mercy.
- Heather Fallis

Lord, help us to not be distracted by FOMO or comparison, but let us continually be focused on Your mission of love.

KP

by KP

An Inheritance Squandered

“…and there he squandered his property in reckless living.” -Luke 15:13b

“He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating,
but no one gave him anything.” -Luke 15:16

Jesus paints a vivid image of this younger son's journey from abundance, and excess to utter need and desperation. From the comfort of his father's home to the allure and decadence of the far country leading down into indentured servitude with the swine.

When I read through the Parable of the Prodigal Son, I usually quickly wrap up this part of the story to get to the happier parts of Jesus' story. Why would we want to dwell on such a wretched existence? I have never received an enormous amount of wealth from my earthly parents, and I cannot relate to spending time rolling around with pigs desperately hoping to eat whatever they have been gobbling up. The Pharisees listening to Jesus tell this story also would have felt a disconnect with this foolish young man’s experience. One of their thoughts (and even mine) may have been that this son simply got what he deserved. If you are going to waste all you have and disrespect your family of origin, what else should you expect but isolation and destruction?

The reality is that, yes, our sin does separate us from the Father. Paul put it this way in Ephesians 2:1-3, And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked…carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

God gave each one of us an amazing inheritance. He created us in His image, gave us a wonderful world to enjoy, and each one of us has told Him that our way is better. I was dead in trespasses and the sins and apart from His goodness, I still would be dead in my trespasses and sins!

I’ve grown to love the story of the Prodigal Son because it reminds me of my deep need for God’s grace in my life. Apart from His gentle, life-giving kindness, I would still be living a life separated from my Creator!

How does this truth shape the way we view and act toward those around us? Is there someone in your life that needs to hear a life-giving word from you today? May we love and see others the way our loving Father does - precious in His sight and worth rescuing!

Tim Mitchell
Welcome Specialist

by Tim Mitchell

Choose God

When I gave my life to Christ in 1999 I had no idea who or what I was giving my life to. I soon realized that in order to experience any significant life changes, I would actually have to do things differently. Poor decisions in life can often cause major setbacks. In a life led by Christ, he will allow us to make choices that don’t always line up with his will for our life; or perhaps they do. In Luke 15 Jesus tells the parable of the prodigal son who told his Father to give him the share he had coming, so the Father divided the assets to both sons.

We know that the younger of the two sons left and squandered his inheritance, however, the Father was filled with compassion when he finally came home. I often say “sometimes I make the wrong choice before I make the right one.” When Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from God among the trees in the garden of Eden. God is the one who pursued and came after them, "the LORD God called to the man" (Genesis 3:8–9).

Whether my decision or choice is right or wrong, God is always there for me. He had a perfect design for us from the beginning and gave his own son to die for our sins. We will always be challenged with making decisions or choices, and Jesus will always be with us to help us and refine us through the good and the bad decisions we make in life.

Throughout the Bible, we see the ongoing charge for us to pursue God and we see the story of Him pursuing us. In Jeremiah 29:13 God tells the Israelites, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

God loves us, always pursues us, and we can choose to be caught. The best choice I ever made was to choose Jesus and make him the Lord of my life.

Randy Carter
Inside Maintenance Director

by Randy Carter

Seeking More

I grew up in a Buddhist home full of love and trauma. My mother could pray for hours on the floor and had special prayer pillows deeply indented by her knees. I would tell people my mom could outpray any Christian because she was a “prayer warrior.”

In 2012, we found out she had stage 4 cancer. It didn’t stop her from living life to the fullest. She passed away in 2018, and I don’t know if she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.

Why am I sharing this story with you concerning the teaching of the Prodigal Son? It’s because what I haven’t told you is she always wanted more from life. She wanted money, jewelry, happiness, and success. The prodigal son also wanted more.

“The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate . . .”
Luke 15:12

She wanted all these things while working hard to be at peace. She was at odds with herself and took it out on those around her. Months before she passed, I visited her in Thailand. She was in a lot of pain, frail, distant, and constantly meditating to be a better person for the next life.

One morning she took a break from meditating and asked me to share my beliefs about life and death. I did my best to share the amazing love of Jesus Christ as I had done many times before. However, this time I knew it was going to be my last. After I finished, she looked at me and said, “I never heard Jesus like that before.” All I could do at that moment was look into my mom’s eyes and pray that she would sense God's love and peace.

Until her death, I never stopped praying for her. I hoped she would come to know Jesus and be welcomed into the eternal family to find the peace, joy, and love she had been seeking. Just like the prodigal son did when he finally came home.

Father, open our eyes to welcome all who don’t know you. Keep your church a place of peace, love, and rest for all who are looking for a home. Amen.

Michelle Jones
Operations Director

by Michelle Jones

The Father’s Heart

And He said, “A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that is coming to me.’ And so he divided his ]wealth between them..

Having a prodigal child is tough. In Luke 15:11-12, the son said, “give me my share”. How did the father feel as his son just left with his share?

We have a daughter who is temporarily out of communication with us. Children leave home sometimes under tough circumstances. When that happens, what grabs our hearts? The father didn’t know where his son was or when he would ever return. We don’t know when we will see our daughter again. Of course we want her back but as we wait, what is our heart condition? Is it worry, anxiety, hurt, or bitterness? “Lord, bring back what is ours.” Is she truly ours? Or…

Do I trust that God is good? (Psalm 145:9)
Do I trust that she is His child? (John 1:12)
Do I trust that I am complete in Christ in order to be at peace no matter where she is in her journey? (Col 2:10)
Do I trust that He will work all things together for good and according to His (not my) purpose? (Rom. 8:28).
Do I trust the good work He has done and is doing in her? (Phil 1:6)

What will be the condition of my heart when she returns? Will I be willing to receive her unconditionally as the father did? Am I a minister of reconciliation for God? (2 Cor. 5:17-21)

This is not easy, I know. But the truth is we have a Good Father who knows us intimately and loves us so much that He sacrificed His Son for us. Jesus died for us after we left Him, welcoming us back. Now nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:39)

Because of Jesus, we have the Grace through The Holy Spirit to welcome others back and love them as He loved us. The choice is ours to follow Him or go our own way.

Lori

by Lori

The Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is most likely the best-known parable. It’s the longest, has the most details and unlike other parables, it has more than one lesson.

● Repentance & Forgiveness
● Self Righteousness & Moral Superiority

While reading this parable, I wondered which brother to write about, which one could I see in myself?

The older brother and his self-righteousness & moral superiority? Probably, how many times have I listened to a sermon, knowing exactly who it was meant for, and thought, “too bad they weren’t there to hear it”?

I certainly couldn’t see any of myself in the younger son. The Greek word for prodigal is ‘dissolute’ and carries with it the idea of a depraved lifestyle. That’s not me, I would never ask for my inheritance and then squander it! Then the Holy Spirit gave me a little nudge to pray and this is what He brought to mind.

I am like the prodigal, I have squandered, misused, and wasted my Father’s inheritance, many times, in many different ways:

Selfishness: It blinds us to the needs of others. The gifts that I have received from a generous God, I have sometimes kept to myself, assuming they are just for me and not others. They’re mine! No, they are to be shared, they are for blessing and supporting the body of Christ.

Pride: Have I thought too highly of myself, that what I have to give is too good for someone else? It’s mine! Am I too focused on myself? Have I allowed real needs to become trivial, next to my priorities?

Worldliness: Do I prize and prioritize what the world does? Do I waste and misuse my gifts and my time by enjoying what the world finds comfort in? Having fun, hobbies, social media, really anything that keeps us from spending time with Him. When our prayer life is not what it should be, neither is our walk.

It is never too late to share the gifts He has given us and make a difference in the lives of others.

Cyndie Evans
Operations Coordinator

by Cyndie Evans

God’s Gift of Free Will Luke 15:11-12

In this parable, Jesus tells us of a son who demanded his inheritance while his father was still alive. While we might see that as rude or presumptuous today, in Jesus' time that would have been unthinkable! In this situation, the father would have been expected to run the household until he died. For the son to ask for his portion of the inheritance was the same as saying his father was dead to him. In return, the son would be dead to his father. It was an incredibly selfish and disrespectful request made by a rebellious son.

What was the son really asking for? He wanted out of the family and to be completely independent. He basically said, “Give me my stuff and I’m gone.” So why does the father say yes and give him the inheritance?

Even today, we would be surprised by a father who would give in to such a demand. The reason he did though was because, in this parable, the father represents our Father in Heaven, not an earthly father. As He often does with us, the father in the story gives his son what he asks, even though he knows it will lead to unhappy consequences. He allowed his son the free will to choose to go his own way, even if it might lead to sinful living.

In Genesis 2-3, we read about the story of how Adam and Eve rebelled, and they could no longer stay in the good and perfect place that God had prepared for them. The fall in Eden is an example of God giving us free will, either to choose to follow Him or our own ways. Free will is an incredible gift that God gives to us, but it can also be used to rebel and distance ourselves from God.

After hearing the Prodigal Son’s story, how can we avoid falling into the same temptation of choosing our own will over the Lord’s? By God’s grace, we can trust in His Spirit to lead us to walk in His will and to be blessed with the strength to choose His will above our own.

Cheri Wright
Communications Director

by Cheri Wright